Minister Bahlil Prepares Long-Term Contract for Russian Oil Imports

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has stated that the government is preparing a long-term contract for importing crude oil from Russia. “The first phase has already arrived. The second phase is underway. We will later create a long-term contract,” Bahlil said when met at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Wednesday. On that occasion, Bahlil emphasised that the entity procuring or importing oil from Russia is not Pertamina, but the state through the Oil and Gas Testing Centre (Lemigas). Bahlil conveyed that after the state imports crude oil from Russia, the distribution to the public is a state matter that cannot be intervened in by other countries. Indonesia does not dictate to other nations, Bahlil said, therefore other countries should not dictate to Indonesia, including regarding the fulfilment of national energy needs. “We must safeguard our nation’s independence as part of our devotion to the Motherland,” Bahlil said. Bahlil stressed that Indonesia is in need of oil. As Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, he stated it is his concern to maintain domestic fuel stock reserves. He ordered Lemigas to import oil from Russia in accordance with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive through Presidential Regulation Number 26 of 2026 concerning the Procurement of Crude Oil, Fuel Oil and/or Liquified Petroleum Gas for National Energy Security. The aim of managing energy imports through Lemigas, he said, is to cut the supply chain that has been occurring. Bahlil added that importing energy commodities through Lemigas also enables government-to-government transactions.